Spokane's leadership landscape stands to look different this time next year, with a number of key executives announcing plans to leave or retire in the coming months. 

Now is an ideal time for the Spokane business community to reflect on what that next generation of leadership should look like. What skills will be required of our future leaders, and how do they differ from the skills that have been needed up to this point? What experiences will the new faces of organizations bring to the table, and how will they help the Inland Northwest fulfill its potential? 

We also must ask whether those new leaders will be willing to serve as desperately needed community leaders. The number of publicly traded companies headquartered in Spokane is about a third of what it was 15 years ago, and the number of Spokane-based large employers has shrunk as well, due mostly to merger-and-acquisition activity. Can we fill open positions with people who are willing to take on the second job of being good civic leaders? It's a challenge we as a business community should set for ourselves as we shape the future.

As we ponder such questions, let's look to how some of Spokane's most prominent corporations are handling the CEO transitions as inspiration. 

Before we get into that, here's a brief—albeit partial—rundown of some of the leadership changes that are occurring and that are on the horizon. 

• Ray Sprinkle, CEO of Spokane-based grocery cooperative URM Foods Inc., announced last month that he plans to retire next summer. The cooperative plans to start searching for Sprinkle's replacement early next year. 
• Thayne McCulloh, the first non-Jesuit to lead Gonzaga University, earlier this year disclosed plans to retire after the 2024-25 academic year. Gonzaga's board has hired a firm to conduct its presidential search, and McCulloh has committed to working with the university through the transition. 
• About 80 miles south of the Gonzaga campus, Washington State University has begun looking for a new president as Kirk Schulz prepares to leave his post, on roughly the same timeline as McCulloh. WSU expects its new leader to start in July of 2025. 
• Susan Meyer, CEO of Spokane Transit Authority, plans to leave at the end of the year, after leading the organization for nearly 20 years. 

And of course, there's the news that broke earlier this week that Heather Rosentrater will be the next CEO at Avista Corp., as Dennis Vermillion prepares to retire at year-end. The Spokane-based publicly traded energy company appears to have been intentional in its promotion of Rosentrater, who is set to become the first female CEO in the company's 135-year history.  

In a statement announcing the transition, Vermillion said, "Succession planning is something that we’ve carefully considered and purposely planned for over the years. Heather has demonstrated a strong commitment to our company, employees, communities, and shareholders." 

Vermillion deserves applause for his prioritization of succession planning--and for his leadership in recent years. 

Washington Trust Bank took a similar approach when it announced Jack Heath as its new CEO earlier this year, replacing longtime leader Peter Stanton. The move came as little surprise, which is a positive for a storied organization with deep Spokane roots. 

It's an exciting time for the Inland Northwest business landscape, and if we ask the right questions and seek the correct qualities, we can position ourselves well for the future with the next generation of leaders.